Paris knife attack: Killer was born in Russia's Chechnya
THE PARIS attacker who was shot dead by police officers during his killing spree on Saturday evening was born in the Russian republic of Chechnya and was considered a threat to national security, sources said.
Authorities crowd round scene of Paris stabbing incident
The 29-year-old attacker has been identified despite he was not carrying any identification papers.
The man had been previously categorised as "fiche S" by the authorities, a source said, which in France is a list of people who may represent a threat to national security.
Police, which haven't shared the name of the man yet, have been held for questioning the man's parents, a juridicial source told to French media.
The attacker, who killed two people and wounded four more in the busy Opera district yesterday night, is believed to be a French national.
If his Chechen origins were to be confirmed, this would be the first time a terror attack is carried out in France by someone from the southern Russian region of Chechenya.
The man, who reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) while stabbing passer-by, may be linked to ISIS, as the terror group said later yesterday night that he was one of their "soldiers".
More than 230 people have been killed by IS-inspired jihadists in the past three years.
In the aftermath of the attack French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in French: "All my thoughts go to the victims and the wounded of the knife attack perpetrated tonight in Paris, as well as to their relatives.
"I salute on behalf of the French the courage of the policemen who have neutralised the terrorist.
"France has once again paid in blood, but will not give an inch to the enemies of freedom."
Eyewitnesses described him as a young man with brown hair and a beard, dressed in black tracksuit trousers.
Paris attack: Authorities rushed to the scene to stop the attacker
Paris attack: Authorities carried out an investigation following the killing spree
France 24 reporter Charles Pellegrin tweeted: "I came out of a comedy show near Opera in central Paris and was immediately told to go back in because there was a madman with a knife.
“The eyewitnesses then told me police tried to tazer the attacker.
“This did not work, so they fired two shots.
“Police have now set up a perimeter and say the situation is under control. Ambulances are rushing to the scene.”
Armed police cordon off scene of Paris stabbing incident
Paris attack: The attacker is believed to be of French nationality
Another witness heard the moment police shot dead the attacker.
She told BFMTV: “We were drinking with friends quietly on the terrace and then all of a sudden we heard gunshots.
“Here are shots, and then suddenly, a stir in our street. We did not understand, the waiters told us 'quickly, quickly, run, to shelter’.
“So we sheltered and I was curious so I wanted to get out of the bar. I saw a guy lying on the floor, he was dead for me, the police arrived, they were so many."